Description

Acacia (Acacia confusa)

Acacia confusa or acacia petit feuille, small Philippine acacia, Formosa acacia (Taiwan acacia) and Formosan koa, is a perennial tree native to Southeast Asia. The tree grows to a height of 15m and is commonly found in tropical Pacific areas, including Hawaii. In Burma, Laos and Thailand, the feathery shoots of Acacia are used in soups, curries, omelettes and stir-fries. The bark may be ground into a powder and saturated into water to create a tea, or may be spread onto various foods as a spice and taste enhancer. In Taiwan, the plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine for use in traumatic injuries, including ulcers, bleeding gums, canker sores, sore throats and skin diseases. The acacia plant has numerous phytochemicals which may have health benefits, including the inhibition of catabolic deamination.